bottom: the eye of hurricane Catarina, off the coast of Brazil in 2004, as seen from the International Space Station

eye

(ī)

n.

1. An organ of vision or of light sensitivity.

2.

a. Either of a pair of hollow structures located in bony sockets of the skull, functioning together or independently, each having a lens capable of focusing incident light on an internal photosensitive retina from which nerve impulses are sent to the brain; the vertebrate organ of vision.

b. The external, visible portion of this organ together with its associated structures, especially the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

c. The pigmented iris of this organ.

3. The faculty of seeing; vision.

4. The ability to make intellectual or aesthetic judgments: has a good eye for understated fashion.

5.

a. A way of regarding something; a point of view: To my eye, the decorations are excellent.

b. Attention: The lavish window display immediately got my eye.

c. Watchful attention or supervision: always under his boss's eye; kept an eye on her valuables.

6. Something suggestive of the vertebrate organ of vision, especially:

a. An opening in a needle.

b. The aperture of a camera.

c. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread.

d. A circular marking on a peacock's feather.

e. Chiefly Southern US The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called regionally cap1, griddle.

7. A photosensitive device, such as a photoelectric cell.

8. Botany

a. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.

b. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.

9.

a. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.

b. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.

10. Informal A detective, especially a private investigator.

11. A choice center cut of meat, as of beef: eye of the round.

tr.v.eyed, eye·ing or ey·ing(ī′ĭng), eyes

1. To look at: eyed the passing crowd with indifference.

2. To watch closely: eyed the shark's movements.

3. To supply with an eye.

Idioms:

all eyes

Fully attentive.

an eye for an eye

Punishment in which an offender suffers what the victim has suffered.

clap/lay/set(one's) eyes on

To look at.

eye to eye

In agreement: We're eye to eye on all the vital issues.

have eyes for

To be interested in.

have (one's) eye on

1. To look at, especially attentively or continuously.

2. To have as one's objective.

in the eye of the windNautical

In a direction opposite that of the wind; close to the wind.

in the public eye

1. Frequently seen in public or in the media.

2. Widely publicized; well-known.

my eyeSlang

In no way; not at all. Used interjectionally.

with an eye to

With a view to: redecorated the room with an eye to its future use as a nursery.

eye

(aɪ)

n

1. (Anatomy) the organ of sight of animals, containing light-sensitive cells associated with nerve fibres, so that light entering the eye is converted to nervous impulses that reach the brain. In man and other vertebrates the iris controls the amount of light entering the eye and the lens focuses the light onto the retina.

2. (often plural) the ability to see; sense of vision: weak eyes.

3. (Anatomy) the visible external part of an eye, often including the area around it: heavy-lidded eyes; piercing eyes.

4. a look, glance, expression, or gaze: a stern eye.

5. a sexually inviting or provocative look (esp in the phrases give (someone) the (glad) eye, make eyes at)

eye

eye

1. the organ of sight; in vertebrates, one of a pair of spherical bodies contained in an orbit of the skull, along with its associated structures.

2. the visible parts of this organ, as the cornea, iris, and pupil, and the surrounding eyebrows, eyelids, and eyelashes.

3. this organ with respect to the color of the iris: blue eyes.

4. the region surrounding the eye: puffy eyes.

5. sight; vision: a sharp eye.

6. the power of seeing; appreciative or discriminating visual perception: the eye of an artist.

7. a look, glance, or gaze: cast one's eye upon a scene.

8. an attentive look; observation: under the eye of a guard.

9. regard, view, aim, or intention: an eye to one's own advantage.

10. judgment; opinion: in the eyes of the law.

11. a center; crux: the eye of an issue.

12. something suggesting the eye in appearance, as the opening in the lens of a camera or a peephole.

13. a bud, as of a potato or other tuber.

14. a small, contrastingly colored part at the center of a flower.

15. a usu. lean, muscular section of a cut of meat.

16. a roundish spot, as on a tail feather of a peacock.

17. the hole in a needle.

18. a hole in a thing for the insertion of some object, as the handle of a tool: the eye of an ax.

19. a ring through which something, as a rope or rod, is passed.

20. the loop into which a hook is inserted.

21. a photoelectric cell or similar device used to perform a function analogous to visual inspection.

22. a hole formed during the maturation of cheese.

23. the region of lighter winds and fair weather at the center of a tropical cyclone.

24. the direction from which a wind is blowing.

v.t.

25. to look at; view: to eye the wonders of nature.

26. to watch carefully: eyed them with suspicion.

27. to make an eye in: to eye a needle.

v.i.

28. Obs. to appear; seem.

Idioms:

1. be all eyes, to be extremely attentive.

2. catch someone's eye, to attract someone's attention.

3. give someone the eye, to give someone a flirtatious or warning glance.

4. have an eye for, to be discerning about.

5. have eyes for, to be attracted to.

6. keep one's eyes open, to be especially alert or observant.

7. lay or set eyes on, to see.

8. make eyes, to glance flirtatiously; ogle.

9. run one's eye over, to examine hastily.

10. see eye to eye, to agree.

11. with an eye to, with the intention or consideration of.

[before 900; Middle English eie, ie, Old English ēge, variant of ēage; c. Old Saxon ōga, Old High German ouga, Old Norse auga; akin to Latin oculus, Greek ṓps]

eye′like`,adj.

eye

cross section of a human eye

eye

(ī)

1. The organ of the body with which an animal is able to see or sense light. In vertebrate animals, the eye occurs as one of a pair, each consisting of a spherical structure that is filled with fluid. Incoming light is refracted by the cornea and transmitted through the pupil to the lens, which focuses the image onto the retina. See more at compound eye, eyespot.

2. Botany A bud on a tuber, such as a potato.

3. The relatively calm area at the center of a hurricane or similar storm. See more at hurricane.

naked eye - the eye unaided by any optical instrument that alters the power of vision or alters the apparent size or distance of objects; "it is not safe to look directly at the sun with the naked eye"

area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country"

hub - a center of activity or interest or commerce or transportation; a focal point around which events revolve; "the playground is the hub of parental supervision"; "the airport is the economic hub of the area"

inner city - the older and more populated and (usually) poorer central section of a city

medical center - the part of a city where medical facilities are centered

midfield - (sports) the middle part of a playing field (as in football or lacrosse)

seat - a center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised)

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